Tire having gum strip and chafer

ABSTRACT

A tire having a circumferential tread, at least one belt, an inner liner, a pair of sidewalls, at least one carcass ply, and a pair of bead portions. The pair of bead portions each further includes a bead core, a bead filler having an upper end, a chaffer, and a gum strip. The chaffer extends axially outward from the inner liner towards the sidewall and curves radially upward along an axially outer portion of the bead core. The sidewall gum strip extends radially upward from a curved portion of the chaffer, wherein the sidewall gumstrip is located axially between the at least one carcass ply turn-up end and a sidewall.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present application is directed to tires with a gum strip andflipper in the bead regions. More particularly, the present applicationis directed to tires with a gum strip and a full flipper in each of thebead regions.

BACKGROUND

In an inflated and loaded condition, a tire is subject to forces thatproduce strains and stresses in different portions of the tire. Forcesin the bead regions of the tire create strains and stresses between thecarcass plies and adjacent material components. For example, strains andstresses can build up to elevated levels between the carcass plies andthe bead core, bead filler, and sidewall areas of the tire.

SUMMARY

A tire is disclosed herein having a circumferential tread, at least onebelt, an inner liner, a pair of sidewalls, and at least one carcass ply.The tire further includes a pair of bead portions, each including a beadcore, a bead filler, a chaffer, and a gum strip.

The chaffer extends axially outward from the inner liner towards thesidewall and curves radially upward along an axially outer portion ofthe bead core. The sidewall gum strip extends radially upward from acurved portion of the chaffer, wherein the sidewall gumstrip is locatedaxially between the at least one carcass ply turn-up end and a sidewall.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the accompanying drawings, structures are illustrated that, togetherwith the detailed description provided below, describe exemplaryembodiments of a tire having a gum strip and full flipper. One ofordinary skill in the art will appreciate that a single component may bedesigned as multiple components or that multiple components may bedesigned as a single component.

Further, in the accompanying drawings and description that follow, likeparts are indicated throughout the drawings and written description withthe same reference numerals, respectively. The figures are not drawn toscale and the proportions of certain parts have been exaggerated forconvenience of illustration.

FIG. 1 illustrates a partial cross-section of one embodiment of a tire.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-section of a portion of the tire of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an alternative embodiment of the tire illustrated in FIG. 1,illustrating an enlarged cross-section of a portion of the tire.

FIG. 4 is an alternative embodiment of a tire, illustrating an enlargedcross-section of a portion of the tire.

FIG. 5 illustrates a partial cross-section of an alternative embodimentof a tire.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Directions are stated in this application with reference to the axis ofrotation of the tire. The terms “upward” and “upwardly” refer to ageneral direction towards the tread of the tire, whereas “downward” and“downwardly” refer to the general direction towards the axis of rotationof the tire. Thus, when relative directional terms such as “upper” and“lower” are used in connection with an element, the “upper” element isspaced closer to the tread than the “lower” element. Additionally, whenrelative directional terms such as “above” or “below” are used inconnection with an element, an element that is “above” another elementis closer to the tread than the other element.

The terms “inward” and “inwardly” refer to a general direction towardsthe equatorial plane of the tire, whereas “outward” and “outwardly”refer to a general direction away from the equatorial plane of the tireand towards the sidewall of the tire. Thus, when relative directionalterms such as “inner” and “outer” are used in connection with anelement, the “inner” element is spaced closer to the equatorial plane ofthe tire than the “outer” element.

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of half of one embodiment of a tire100. Although only half of the tire 100 is depicted in the drawings, itwill be appreciated that the other half of the tire 100 is a substantialmirror image of the half depicted. The tire 100 has an equatorial planeE and a maximum section width W measured from the equatorial plane E tothe outer most point of the tire 100, point X on sidewall. The tire 100can be divided into two sections—an upper section U and a lower sectionL. Separating the upper section U from the lower section L is animaginary line Y drawn through point X that is substantially parallel tothe axis of rotation of the tire 100. The upper section U is the portionof the tire 100 that is disposed above point X of the tire 100 (portionabove line Y), while the lower section L is disposed below point X ofthe tire 100 (portion below line Y).

With continued reference to FIG. 1, the tire 100 includes a tread 102provided in the upper section U of the tire 100, a sidewall 104 providedin both the upper and lower sections U, L of the tire 100, and a beadportion 106 provided in the lower section L of the tire 100. The beadportion 106 includes a bead core 108 and a bead filler 110 having anupper end 112.

The tire 100 also includes first, second, and third carcass plies 114,116, 118 that extend circumferentially about the tire 100 from one beadportion (e.g., bead portion 106) to the other bead portion (not shown).The first, second, and third carcass plies 114, 116, 118 are woundoutwardly about the bead core 108 and extend upwardly towards the tread102 to form first, second, and third turn-up portions 120, 122, 124,respectively. Each turn-up portion 120, 122, 124 terminates at a turn-upend 126, 128, 130, respectively. Although the tire 100 illustrated inFIG. 1 includes three carcass plies, the tire 100 may include more orless than three carcass plies in alternative embodiments (not shown).

With continued reference to the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, firstturn-up portion 120 of first carcass ply 114 has a first height H₁measured radially from turn-up end 126 to the base of bead core 108.Second turn-up portion 122 of second carcass ply 116 has a second heightH₂ measured radially from turn-up end 128 to the base of bead core 108.Third turn-up portion 124 of third carcass ply 118 has a third height H₃measured radially from turn-up end 130 to the base of bead core 108. Inthe illustrated embodiment, first height H₁ is less than second heightH₂, which is less than third height H₃. In alternative embodiments (notshown), first turn-up portion 120 or second turn-up portion 122 may havethe greatest height. In other alternative embodiments (not shown), oneor more of the turn-up portions may have equal heights. In yet otheralternative embodiments (not shown), the heights of the turn-up portionson one side of tire 100 vary from the heights of the turn-up portion onthe other side of tire 100, e.g., first height H₁ is greater than secondheight H₂ and less than third height H₃ on one side of the tire andfirst height H₁ is less than second height H₂, which is less than thirdheight H₃ on the other side of the tire. Preferably, the heights H₁, H₂,and H₃ of the turn-up portions 120, 122, 124 are between about 10% andabout 70% of the section height H₀ (which is measured from the outertread surface at the equatorial plane E_(p) to the base of the bead core108). In an alternative embodiment, heights H₁, H₂, and H₃ of theturn-up portions 120, 122, 124 are between about 10% and about 55% ofthe section height H. In one embodiment, height H₁ of first turn-upportion is between about 125 mm and about 280 mm, height H₂ of secondturn-up portion is between about 70 mm and about 230 mm, and height H₃of the third turn-up portion is between about 70 mm and about 230 mm.

With continued reference to FIG. 1, tire 100 further includes six belts132 a-f that extend circumferentially about tire 100. The belts 132 a-fare provided below tread 102 and above first, second, and third carcassplies 114, 116, 118. Further, belts 132 a-f terminate at edges 134 a-f,respectively, at locations near a shoulder region 136 of tire 100.Although tire 100 illustrated in FIG. 1 features six belts, tire 100 caninclude less than six belts or more than six belts in alternativeembodiments (not shown).

With continued reference to FIG. 1, tire 100 also includes a belt edgeinsert 138 provided in shoulder region 136 of tire 100 between edges 134a-f of the belts 132 a-f, respectively, and first, second, and thirdcarcass plies 114, 116, 118. Belt edge insert 138 extendscircumferentially about tire 100, and has an inner end 140 disposedinward of edge 134 a of the lowest belt 132 a and an outer end 142disposed outwards from edge 134 a of the lowest belt 132 a. Placement ofthe belt edge insert 138 in this location protects carcass plies 114,116, 118 from the edges of belts 134 a-f and maintains a flat, constantbelt profile. Belt edge insert 138 may be constructed of extrudedrubber. Alternatively, belt edge insert 138 may be constructed ofanother elastomeric material. Although shown in the FIG. 1 embodiment,the belt edge insert 138 is optional and may be omitted in alternativeembodiments (not shown).

As shown in FIG. 1, tire 100 also includes first and second shoulderinserts 144, 146 that extend circumferentially about tire 100. Firstshoulder insert 144 is provided between first carcass ply 114 and secondcarcass ply 116. Second shoulder insert 146 is provided between secondcarcass ply 116 and third carcass ply 118. In the illustratedembodiment, first and second shoulder inserts 144, 146 include upperends 144 a, 146 a and lower ends 144 b, 146 b. Upper ends 144 a, 146 aof shoulder inserts 144, 146 terminate in the upper section U of tire100 radially inward of six belts 132 a-f. Further, lower ends 144 b, 146b of shoulder inserts 144, 146 terminate in the upper section U of tire100 radially below upper ends 144 a, 146 a. In an alternativeembodiment, at least one of the lower ends 144 b, 146 b of shoulderinserts 144 146 terminate in the lower section L of tire 100. In anotheralternative embodiment, only one of the upper ends 144 a, 146 a ofshoulder inserts 144, 146 terminates in the upper section U of tire 100radially inward of belts 132 a-f. In yet another alternative embodiment(not shown), shoulder inserts 144, 146 can extend from one sidewall toanother sidewall, and have lower ends 144 b, 146 b that terminate in thelower section L or upper section U of tire 100. Although tire 100illustrated in FIG. 1 features two shoulder inserts, tire 100 caninclude less than two shoulder inserts or more than two shoulder insertsin alternative embodiments (not shown).

FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-section of a portion of tire 100 of FIG. 1depicting bead portion 106 in the lower section L of tire 100 in greaterdetail. Bead portion 106 further includes a portion of an inner liner202, a flipper 204, a chaffer 206, and a sidewall gum strip 208. Flipper204, chaffer 206, and sidewall gum strip 208 extend circumferentiallyabout tire 100.

Flipper 204 includes a first end 210 and a second end 212. In theillustrated embodiment, first end 210 is radially above upper end 112 ofbead filler 110 and extends radially downward along an axially innerperimeter of the bead filler 110, around a perimeter of the bead core108, radially upward along an axially outer perimeter of the bead filler110 and terminates at second end 212, radially lower than the first end210 and in proximity to upper end 112 of bead filler 110. Flipper 204 ismade from rubber, providing a cushion between the bead filler 108 andthe first, second, and third carcass plies 114, 116, 118. In analternative embodiment, second end 212 terminates radially above upperend 112 of bead filler 110. In another alternative embodiment, secondend 212 terminates radially below upper end 112 of bead filler 110. Inyet another alternative embodiment, first end 210 may be axially inwardof bead filler top 112.

As shown in the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2, chaffer 206 includes afirst end 214 axially adjacent to inner liner 202. The chaffer 206extends axially outward from inner liner 202, below bead core 108 andcarcass plies 114, 116, 118, and curves upward around bead core 108 andcarcass plies 114, 116, 118, terminating axially outward of the sidewallgum strip 208 at second end 216. In the illustrated embodiment, secondend 216 of chaffer 206 is located radially downward of the bead filler110. In an alternative embodiment, second end 216 of chaffer 206 islocated radially upward of bead core 108. In yet another alternativeembodiment (not shown), first end 214 of chaffer 206 may be positionedat a location between inner liner 202 and carcass plies 114, 116, 118,axially inward of bead core 108 and radially above second end 216 sochaffer 206 includes two curved portions that curve radially upward oneach side of bead core 108. Chaffer 206 may be made from nylon,polyester, or the like.

With continued reference to FIG. 2, the sidewall gum strip 208 islocated axially between third turn-up portion 124 and a portion ofchaffer 206. The sidewall gum strip begins at first end 218, locatedbelow the second end 216 of chaffer 206, and extends radially upward,terminating at a second end 220, located radially below the first andsecond ends 210, 212 of flipper 204 and upper end 112 of bead filler110. In an alternative embodiment (not shown), second end 220 is locatedradially upward of upper end 112 of bead filler 110. In anotheralternative embodiment (not shown), first end 218 of sidewall gum strip208 is axially outward of second end 216 of chaffer 206. In oneembodiment, second end 220 is located about 80 mm to about 125 mmradially above first end 218. In another embodiment, second end 220 islocated radially above upper end 112 of bead filler 110.

Illustrated in FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of a portion ofthe tire 100 of FIG. 1 depicting an alternative bead portion 300 in thelower section L of tire 100 in greater detail. The bead portion 300includes an inner liner 302, a flipper 304, a chaffer 306 having a firstend 314 and a second end 316, and a sidewall gum strip 308 having afirst end 318 and a second end 320. Bead portion 300 is substantiallyidentical to the bead portion 106 illustrated in FIG. 2, except for thedesign of flipper 304. In the illustrated embodiment, flipper 304includes a first end 310 and a second end 312. First end 310 of flipper304 is positioned radially above upper end 112 of bead filler 110,extends radially downward along an axially outer perimeter of beadfiller 110, around a perimeter of bead core 108, radially upward alongan axially inner perimeter of bead filler 110 and terminates at secondend 312, radially inward of the first end 310 and in proximity to upperend 112 of bead filler 110. Flipper 304 is made from rubber, providing acushion between bead core 108 and bead filler 110 and first, second, andthird carcass plies 114, 116, 118. In an alternative embodiment, secondend 312 terminates radially upward of upper end 112 of bead filler 110.In another alternative embodiment, second end 312 terminates radiallydownward of upper end 112 of bead filler 110.

FIG. 4 illustrates an enlarged cross-section of a portion of analternative embodiment of a tire 400, depicting a bead portion 402 inthe lower section of tire 400. Bead portion 402 is substantiallyidentical to the bead portion 106 illustrated in FIG. 2, except thatbead portion 402 lacks a rubber flipper between a bead filler 404 andfirst, second, and third carcass plies 406, 408, 410. In the illustratedembodiment, bead portion 406 further includes an inner liner 412, a beadfiller 414 having an upper end 416, a chaffer 418 having a first end 420and a second end 422, and a sidewall gum strip 424 having a first end426 and a second end 428. Inner liner 412, bead filler insert 414,chaffer 418, and sidewall gum strip 420 extend circumferentially abouttire 100.

The flipperless bead portion of tire 400 illustrated in FIG. 4 may beemployed in a tire having shoulder inserts. FIG. 5 is a partialcross-section of such a tire 500. Tire 500 includes a tread 502 providedin the upper section U of the tire 500, a sidewall 504 provided in boththe upper and lower sections U, L of the tire 500, and a bead portion506 provided in the lower section L of the tire 500. The bead portion506 includes a bead core 508 and a bead filler 510 having an upper end512.

Further illustrated in FIG. 5, tire 500 also includes first and secondshoulder inserts 514, 516 that extend circumferentially about tire 500.First shoulder insert 514 is provided between a first carcass ply 518and a second carcass ply 520. Second shoulder insert 516 is providedbetween a second carcass ply 520 and a third carcass ply 522. In theillustrated embodiment, first and second shoulder inserts 514, 516include upper ends 514 a, 516 a and lower ends 514 b, 516 b. Tire 500further includes an inner liner 524, a chaffer 526 having a first end528 and a second end 530, and a sidewall gum strip 532 having a firstend 534 and a second end 536. Inner liner 524, chaffer 526, and sidewallgum strip 532 extend circumferentially about tire 500.

To the extent that the term “includes” or “including” is used in thespecification or the claims, it is intended to be inclusive in a mannersimilar to the term “comprising” as that term is interpreted whenemployed as a transitional word in a claim. Furthermore, to the extentthat the term “or” is employed (e.g., A or B) it is intended to mean “Aor B or both.” When the applicants intend to indicate “only A or B butnot both” then the term “only A or B but not both” will be employed.Thus, use of the term “or” herein is the inclusive, and not theexclusive use. See, Bryan A. Garner, A Dictionary of Modern Legal Usage624 (2d. Ed. 1995). Also, to the extent that the terms “in” or “into”are used in the specification or the claims, it is intended toadditionally mean “on” or “onto.” Furthermore, to the extent the term“connect” is used in the specification or claims, it is intended to meannot only “directly connected to,” but also “indirectly connected to”such as connected through another component or components.

While the present application illustrates various embodiments, and whilethese embodiments have been described in some detail, it is not theintention of the applicant to restrict or in any way limit the scope ofthe appended claims to such detail. Additional advantages andmodifications will readily appear to those skilled in the art.Therefore, the invention, in its broader aspects, is not limited to thespecific details, the representative embodiments, and illustrativeexamples shown and described above. Accordingly, departures may be madefrom such details without departing from the spirit or scope of theapplicant's general inventive concept.

What is claimed is:
 1. A tire having a section height, a maximum sectionwidth, an upper section above the maximum section width, and a lowersection below the maximum section width, the tire comprising: acircumferential tread; at least one belt; a pair of sidewalls, eachsidewall forming an outermost point of a side of the tire; an innerliner; a pair of belt edge inserts; a pair of bead portions, whereineach bead portion includes a bead core and a bead filler; a flipperhaving a first end axially inward of an upper end of the bead filler,extending from the first end radially downward along an axially innerperimeter of the bead filler and around a perimeter of the bead core,continuing radially upward along an axially outer perimeter of the beadfiller, and terminating at a second end axially outward of the upper endof the bead filler; at least one carcass ply extending circumferentiallyabout the tire from one bead portion to the other, wherein the at leastone carcass ply extends radially downward, axially inward of theflipper, extends around the flipper and the bead core, and continuesradially upward, axially outward of the flipper and terminates at aturn-up end; at least two shoulder inserts, the at least two shoulderinserts including first and second shoulder inserts extendingcircumferentially about the tire, the first and second shoulder insertsprovided between the inner liner and at least one of the sidewalls ofthe tire, wherein at least one lower end of the first and secondshoulder inserts terminates in the upper section of the tire and upperends of the first and second shoulder inserts terminate in the uppersection of the tire radially below the at least one belt; a chaferextending axially outward from the inner liner towards one of thesidewalls and having a curved portion curving radially upward along anaxially outer portion of the bead core, wherein the sidewall is locatedaxially outward from and radially below the chafer; and a sidewall gumstrip extending radially upward from the curved portion of the chafer,wherein the sidewall gum strip is located axially between the at leastone carcass ply turn-up end and at least a portion of the chafer suchthat an outer end of the chafer is axially outside the sidewall gumstrip, and wherein the sidewall gum strip further comprises a radiallylower end and a radially upper end, where the radially upper endterminates in the upper section of the tire.
 2. The tire of claim 1,wherein the tire includes at least four belts.
 3. The tire of claim 1,wherein the belt edge inserts are triangular in shape.
 4. The tire ofclaim 1, wherein the first end and the second end of the flipper are atdifferent radial locations.
 5. The tire of claim 4, wherein the firstend of the flipper extends radially above the second end of the flipper.6. The tire of claim 4, wherein the second end of the flipper extendsradially above the first end of the flipper.
 7. The tire of claim 1,wherein the sidewall gum strip has an upper end located radially belowthe first and second ends of the flipper.
 8. The tire of claim 1,wherein the sidewall gum strip has an upper end located radially belowthe upper end of the bead filler.
 9. A tire having a section height, amaximum section width, an upper section above the maximum section width,and a lower section below the maximum section width, the tirecomprising: a circumferential tread; at least one belt; a pair ofsidewalls, each sidewall forming an outermost point of a side of thetire; an inner liner; a pair of bead portions, wherein each bead portionincludes a bead core and a bead filler; at least one carcass plyextending circumferentially about the tire from one bead portion to theother, wherein the at least one carcass ply extends radially downward,axially inward of the bead filler, extends around the bead core, andcontinues radially upward, axially outward of the bead filler, andterminates at a turn-up end; at least two shoulder inserts, the at leasttwo shoulder inserts including first and second shoulder insertsextending circumferentially about the tire, the first and secondshoulder inserts provided between the inner liner and at least one ofthe sidewalls of the tire, wherein at least one lower end of the firstand second shoulder inserts terminates in the upper section of the tireand upper ends of the first and second shoulder inserts terminate in theupper section of the tire radially downward of the at least one belt; achafer extending axially outward from the inner liner towards one of thesidewalls and having a curved portion curving radially upward along anaxially outer portion of the bead core, wherein the sidewall is locatedaxially outward from and radially below the chafer; and a sidewall gumstrip extending radially upward from the curved portion of the chafer,wherein the sidewall gum strip is located axially between the at leastone carcass ply turn-up end and at least a portion of the chafer suchthat an outer end of the chafer is axially outside the sidewall gumstrip, and wherein the sidewall gum strip further comprises a radiallylower end and a radially upper end, where the radially upper endterminates in the upper section of the tire.
 10. The tire of claim 9,wherein the tire includes at least three carcass plies and wherein theat least two shoulder inserts axially separate the at least threecarcass plies in the shoulder region.
 11. The tire of claim 9, whereinat least one of the lower ends of the first and second shoulder insertsextend below the turn-up end of the at least one carcass ply.
 12. Thetire of claim 9, wherein the sidewall gum strip further comprises aradially lower end and a radially upper end, where the radially upperend terminates in the lower section of the tire.
 13. The tire of claim12, wherein the radially upper end of the sidewall gum strip terminatesat a location below an apex of the bead filler.